USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 50
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 50
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 50
USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 50
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 50
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
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His voice was loud and clear; his expression without hesitation, and of such confidence that it would carry conviction. Then, besides, he mingled freely with the people. He knew al- most every one in the counties, their history, character, foibles and idiosyncrasies, so that his selection of jurors and his knowledge of how to touch them was rarely amiss.
In 1871 he was made the Democratie candi- date for president judge of the Twentieth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Union, Snyder and Mifflin, against Hon. Samuel S. Woods, of Mifflin County, the incumbent of the office. In politics he had always been an active Democrat; his voice had been heard with no uncertain sound in support of the prin- ciples of his party in almost every school-house in the counties of Union and Snyder. The political passions engendered by the war had not yet had time to cool. He was on terms of social intercourse with many of the Republican leaders, who, whilst friendly to him person- ally, differed widely from him in his political opinions. The contest was waged with unex- ampled bitterness ; it assumed the fierce heat of a Presidential struggle. The political organi- zation to which he was attached stood around him in one unbroken, compact mass. On the other hand, the Republican organization could not be held together. His intimate acquaint- ance with the people, his admitted ability and integrity, together with the active and open support of a majority of the Republican lawyers of the district, was more than his opponent could withstand, and he was elected in the face of a large adverse political majority. The vote was exceedingly close in so small a poll. In Union the majority for his competitor was 278; in Mifflin the majority for him was 278, and Snyder gave him a majority. Thus the coun- ties in which the candidates resided were a tie, and Snyder County decided the result by the slender majority of nine votes. He entered upon the duties of his office in December, 1871, and car- ried with him to the bench the same energy, quick and ready apprehension, incisive, yet full way of expression, that had characterized him as a lawyer. After a few years he got rid of the ways of the advocate and became an able
judge. Jurors would hear and understand every word he said. He had great administra- tive powers, and conducted the business of the courts with dispatch. He grappled every ques- tion of law as it presented itself, and it was clearly put on the notes of trial, and every bill of exception cheerfully signed and scaled, so that if a case went to the Supreme Court, the record plainly disclosed what had been decided. IIis decisions were well sustained by the Supreme Court.
At the close of his term he had the confidence of the bar as well as of the people. He was a candidate for re-election in 1881, and defeated his competitor by a decisive vote in every county of the district, having received 1189 majority in Mifflin County, 867 in Snyder and 183 in Union-aggregating 2239. The adverse majority in the Presidential contest of the pre- vious year was upward of 1400. He is now in the midst of his second term. ITis fifteen years' experience have well seated him on the benchi,-an able, capable and upright judge, with a clear sense of right and of an abundant legal knowledge.
He has shown himself to be a public-spirited citizen, always ready and willing to assist the needy and deserving. He has given the weight of his influence and contributed largely to the advancement of the material interests of the town and county in which he resides.
Up to the year 1851 judges were appointed for life, or during good behavior; by that amend- ment and under the Constitution of 1874, the terms of the president judges are ten years; of the associates, five years.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES. Appointed.
IION. IIUGH WILSON was a grandson of Hugh Wilson, one of the founders of the Irish settlement in Northampton County, where he settled as early as 1736. Hugh's father, Charles Wilson, born January 30, 1726, in Ireland, married Margaret McNair, and Hugh, their third child, was born in the Irish settlement, June 15, 1761. He married his cousin, Sarah Craig, sister of General Thomas Craig and the Captains Charles and William Craig, who are
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celebrated in the annals of the Revolutionary War,-all children of Elizabeth Wilson, who married the elder Captain William Craig, of the French and Indian War. Hugh Wilson removed from Northampton County to Buffalo Valley in 1792, his wife carrying their son Ungh (who died in Freeport, Ills., July 3, 1873), then an infant, in her arms on horse- back all that long journey. They settled on a farm in what is still Buffalo township, a short distance southwest of the Dreisbach Church, where they lived and died. Upon the organi- zation of Union County, Judge Wilson was appointed, October 11, 1813, associate judge, and served as such until March, ISIO. He died Angust 13, 1845, at the age of eighty-four. He was a cousin of Hugh Wilson, who lived one mile west of Lewisburgh, and died the same year, nearly of the same age. Judge Wilson left numerous descendants. Among his children were William C., who died at Salina, Clinton County ; Hugh, above referred to; John ; Eliza, who married Walter Devling; and Craig Wil- son, whose descendants, with some of those of Hugh, still reside in Buffalo Valley, Union County.
JOHN BOLENDER, commissioned August 26, 1815; resigned December 11, 1820.
ADAM LEIGHIT, commissioned December 11, 1820.
GEORGE SCHNABLE, commissioned March 26, ISIO. He was born on the 17th day of March, 1791; married to Sarah Betz, a daughter of John Betz, a granddaughter of George Troxell, a first resident of Lewisburgh. He was ap- pointed and commissioned a justice of the peace July 14, 1817; commissioned associate judge March 26, 1840; removed to Williams- port in 1848, and died there December 13, 1863, at the age of seventy-two.
JOHN BASKINS, commissioned March 15, ISII ; resigned and removed to Mercer County, 1843.
JOSEPH STILWELL, commissioned January 21, 1843. He taught school in Lewisburgh in 1808. He was treasurer of the county in 1817; member of the Legislature, 1817-18; February 7, 1821, appointed prothonotary for three years, and again January 28, 1830, hold-
ing office to January 6, 1836. Ile was also commissioned justice of the peace, November 18, 1823. He was also a practical surveyor, and November 10, 1825, he commenced to lay out the turnpike, by survey, from Mifflinburg to Bellefonte, commencing at Mifflinburg ; and in 1837 was recording secretary of the Union County Agricultural Society. He died August 22, 1851, at the age of seventy-four, and his widow, Mrs. Ann Stilwell, died June 28, 1862, at the age of seventy-two.
JOHN MONTELIUS .- In 1838, John Montelius was elected upon the anti-Masonic ticket. Gov. Ritner had received the nomination for Gover- ernor in 1838, for re-election by the anti- Masonic party, but was defeated by 5000 votes ; he had been opposed by the Masons, by the Democrats, and that slavery influence whose tide began to flow in on Pennsylvania, even raising the bitterest contests in the convention for the amendment of the Constitution, made a determined attack on him.
The official returns gave the State to Porter, bnt fraud was alleged. Thos. IT. Burrowes, Secretary of State, and chairman of the execu- tive committee, issued an address urging an investigation. The Senate was decidedly anti- Masonic. The question of an investigation de- pended on the organization of the House, and that again depended on which of the eight members from Philadelphia County would be accepted or recognized.
The return judges of Philadelphia, being in majority Democratic, threw out the Northern Liberties' vote, and when they did so, the anti- Masonic judges left the meeting and organized separately. The majority returned the Demo- cratie members ; the minority the anti-Masonic. In the office of the Secretary of State the minor- ity return was found. When the House assem- bled each party elected Speakers,-Thomas S. Cunningham by the anti-Masons, William Hop- kins by the Democrats,-and it was who the Governor would recognize.
A mob from Philadelphia and other cities collected, and howling around the Capitol, tak- ing possession of the chambers of the Senate and House, all business was stopped. Governor Ritner called out the militia, and to them were
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
issued from the United States Arsenal at Frank- ford cartridges which were known as " buck and ball ;" to the top of the cartridge was fastened the usual musket-ball, and over that three buck-shot. This gave the name to the war, " Buck-shot War."
Montelius acted with his party at first. Believing his party wrong and finding that the eight members from Philadelphia. (Democratic) were not only returned by a majority of the board, but elected by five hundred majority, he acted with the Democrats, and the militia hav- ing restored order, the Houses were able to meet on December 17, 1838. Butler and Sturdevant, of Luzerne, and Montelius, of Union, appeared in the House, over which Mr. Hopkins was presiding; they were sworn as members and thus ended the case. The Senate and Gov- ernor recognized that House. Montelins issned an address to his coustitnents, explaining his course, and blaming the Secretary of State for keeping back his returns. lle was com- missioned associate judge of Union County February 27, 1845, retaining his seat until the change by election. He died at Mifflinburg, aged eighty years, two months, twenty-three days.
JACOB WITTENMEYER, appointed February 28, 1848; elected November 10, 1851; died June 23, 1856, at the age of sixty.
JAMES HARRISON, appointed March 7, 1850; died April 15, 1866, at the age of seventy-two. Elected.
JAMES MARSHALL .- Some few years after the close. of the Revolutionary War a large influx of immigrants from various coun- tries was made manifest in the Keystone State, and among those sturdy Scotch-Irish families, which have since been so strengthening and valu- able to the nation, may properly be named the Marshalls. They removed from County Down, Ireland, and settled in what is now Union County, taking up a large tract of land in White Deer township. Of the earlier members of this family we have no means of knowing; but in the first years of this century were to be found, as the representatives, James Marshall and Nancy, his wife, who had issue
of five children, as follows : George, Sarah, James, Samuel and Margaret. The eldest son received an academic education, and chose the ministry as his life-work; and, as the Rev. George Marshall, D. D., became a strong tower in the Presbyterian Church. Forty years he labored for the Master at Allegheny City, Pa., and was recognized as a man of extensive learning and wide-reaching influence. Many mourned when his life was cut short, in 1872, at the age of sixty-five. "His labors were blessed in the edification of Christians and to the conversion of hundreds."
The younger son (Samuel) now lives in this township. James Marshall, born 1809, received the education afforded by the public schools of those days ; but, unsatisfied with the limited advantages, set himself to study and acquired good, practical knowledge, being unusually strong in mathematics and peumanship. He married Miss Jane, daughter of Charles and Mary Cramer, of Dry Valley, Pa., in 1830, and was blessed with one child (Sarah Jane), who married S. B. Pawling, November 20, 1856, and bore him five children, viz .: James Marshall, born July 21, 1857, married to Miss Mary Catharine Lohr on February 7, 1883, and, at this writing, has one child (Edna Lohr), born December 25, 1884; Elizabeth Jane; Samuel Albert, born February 3, 1860, died April 28, 1875; Sarah Agnes, born June 4, 1862, died May 27, 1865; Jolm Correy, born February 8, 1865, died June 11, 1865. Mrs. Pawling deceased May 21, 1865, a victim to the same fell disease (diphtheria) which took from the once happy home the mother and two children within the short space of three weeks.
The Cramers came from New Jersey the latter part of the eighteenth century ; Charles Cramer, with his parents, eleven brothers and two sisters, settling in the Dry Valley. In due time he took unto himself a wife, and four sons and four daughters were born to gladden their home. Of these, Jane was the second, born 1810. James Marshall carly became a school-teacher and so valuable were his teach- ings and manner that for twenty-four years he occupied such office, and among the number of his pupils was the young lady who became his
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wife in 1830. One of the strong men intellee- tually and morally, he wielded corresponding influence. From the very birth of the Repub- liean party he became its earnest believer and active supporter and was upon several occasions honored with more than the party vote for place. In 1851 he was elected associate judge for the term of five years, and performed the duties of such position to the satisfaction of the citizens. During the stormy days of the Re- bellion he was one of the most ardent support-
of the peace, and it has been said of him, " He was the best 'squire we ever had."
The family was for many years connected with the Presbyterian Church of Milton, and Judge Marshall was an earnest Christian. His life was spent in doing good to all; his advice was sought by hundreds and freely and gra- ciously given, and his years passed to the close of his honorable career, peaceful, happy and valued by his fellow-citizens. He died June 28, 1873, at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs.
franco Marshall
ers of the Union, and did yeoman service as committee on quota in raising money and troops in his township, traveling to and from Harrisburg frequently on such duties. In 1867 Judge Marshall was candidate of his party for the Legislature. His opponent, Captain C. D. Roush, received a majority of three votes, and Mr. Marshall contested the election, carry- ing it to the House of Representatives at Ilar- risburg. A committee was appointed and upon its report Captain Roush was given the seat. For fifteen years he served the people as justice
Marshall still survives her lamented husband and finds a loving welcome in the home of her grandson and husband's namesake, James Marshall Pawling.
JACOB WITTENMEYER, elected November 14, 1851.
PHILIP RUHE was born in Berks County in 1790, moved to Union County, near Rajs church. He served as a lieutenant in Captain Bergstresser's Company in 1812. Married Miss Sarah Smith, daughter of Dr. Smith, of Mitllin- burgh. In 1820 moved to Buffalo Cross Roads,
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
and lived there until his death, September 17, 1879, and was buried at the Driesbach church. He was a colonel of the militia from 1830 until the abandonment of the system ; a member of the legislature in 1830 and 1832'; commissioned justice of the peace March 27, 1837, and re- mained one for forty years; associate judge from 1855 to 1860. He left one son and two daughters.
JOHN WIGGINS SIMONTON was the son of James Simonton and Ann (Bell) Simonton, who were natives of Dauphin County, and were mar- ried April 9, 1807, living in Hanover township until 1813, when they moved to Columbia County, returning to Dauphin in 1827, and moving to Union County in 1836. Judge Simonton was born in Dauphin County December 5, 1812; married to Sarah HI. Irwin, March 2, 1813, and has three surviving children, Mary E. married to Allison Taylor, James, married to a daughter of Thomas Barber ; and John HI., living in Colo-
rado. He was captain of the "Jackson Guards," "Mifflinburg Greens," major of the battalion of volunteers, and after the death of Col. Jackson McFaddin, brigade inspector, until the war of 1861 dissolved all organizations. He was a member of the Legislature of the district of Union and Juniata for the year 1854; elected associate judge in 1856, and held the place for three successive terms.
HON. JOHN WALLS was born on the 24th of August, 1800. His years have been running with the century, and at this writing, though more than half of his eighty-sixth year has passed, his step is as quiek and his movements as alert as those of our best men in their prime. A house yet standing in good repair, in Halifax, Dau- phin County, Pa., was the roof-tree of a family of nine-seven boys and two girls-born to Isaac Walls and Mary, his wife, whose maiden-name was Shepley, whose father had emigrated from Germany, and settled in Lancaster County. Like so many others, Shepley had sold out for Continental money, which, when he came to buy, was worthless. He bought in Armstrong township, Dauphin County. After going to school at Harrisburg, John went behind the counter of the store of MeCleary, at the age of sixteen, in Harrisburg ; and then went to Mil-
ton, induced to go there with Michael Hoff, by McCleary, in the year 1818, and was there until 1827, when he opened a store at Meker's Half Falls, which was MeCleary & Walls, and they opened another store, MeCleary & Walls, in Muncy, in 1829, which was dissolved in 1831, and he removed to Lewisburgh in 1831, where he has been continuously a merchant until the present day-seventy years since he first lifted the yard-stick to sel! a silk dress, which was the first thing he did at Harrisburg, and sixty-six years in business in his own right or associated with others, and handling grain all the while. In 1842 he associated his brother Johnson with him at McKee's Half Falls, and in 1844 at Lewisburgh, under the style of J. & J. Walls, until the death of his brother Johnson. He is the oldest merchant in business between the Bald Eagle and the Bay. In all this long life he has always made friends and retained them, and he has seen three generations swept away and yet they gather around him. It may seem a trifling circumstance, yet it illustrates his character : When in Milton-everybody snuffed in those days, especially the old ladies-they sent the box to the store, with a penny, the box some- times holding but a pennyworth, sometimes as large as a spittoon. He always filled the box for a penny, and when the old lady sent the little boy with the box and the penny, the charge was always, " Go to Johnny." Some old screw would tell him " that won't pay," but he never sent a box away otherwise than filled. So this trait of his permeated the whole conduet of his life, in big and little things; his life was full of large generosity.
The store at MeKee's was opened at the time when he became the contractor to supply all the cement for the Pennsylvania Canal line, which was a large and important thing, and required the best activities of the man to manu- facture and supply as it was required under the contract.
" Yes," said an old octogenarian, "John Walls dadied me all my life. When work was scarce he fed me and my family, until work came again, and I made it a point always to pay John Walls. He'll tell you so." So it
Snowalli
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was in everything, in social and business life. lle gave liberally, he stood by all that was right, and his helpful hand was felt every- where.
When he became the Democratic candidate for associate judge, Curtin was the Republican candidate for Governor. Curtin had eight hundred majority in Union County, and John Walls three hundred.' He was commissioned associate judge of Union County November 20, 1860. He was elected to the Senate of Penh- sylvania in October, 1864, and served till the end of the term (1867), resigning from the judgeship. He was a director in the Northum- berland Bank from the year 1834 until the bank was removed to Sunbury, and then became a director of the Lewisburgh Bank, which office he still occupies. Especially in the days when there was but the Northum- berland Bank to supply this valley with money, busmess men always found in him a generous protector and assister; only those who know what an iron hand the oppressor has can ever realize what such a man in the community may be.
He was married to Margaret Adlum Green, a daughter of General Abbott Green, on the 25th of September, 1832, and who died May 7, 1858, leaving a family of eight children .-- Abbott, who went to California in 1851, died there; Augustus G. Walls, M.D., a very noted physician of Lock Haven ; Mary Ellen, who is married to Judge Joseph C. Bucher ; George W. Walls married to Irene Snyder ; John Johnson Walls ; and William Walls, mar- ried to Annie, a daughter of Colonel Eli Slifer. The latter three are engaged in business with their father in Lewisburgh. He was married a second time, April, 1861, to Sarah J. Wilson, a daughter of William Wilson, who died Janu- ary 9, 1876.
Judge Walls was acquainted and associated with the best men of the day in all these long years, who have grown up and melted away, and with his wonderful memory and his bright, unimpaired faculties, he has a store-house of memories which makes him one of the most interesting men of the day. He became a member of the Presbyterian Church March
21, 1851, under the ministration of Dr. Clark, and there was felt, too, his generous hand and warm heart. When he was seventy- nine years of age his right hand became affected with a dangerous malignant affection, and putting himself in the hospital, it was taken off' by Dr. Agnew, and the indefatigable old gentleman, at the age of eighty years, learned to write with his left hand.
MARTIN DRIESBACH .-- Martin Driesbach, Sr., migrated from Germany in 1752, and came into Buffalo Valley in 1773, having purchased from Dr. William Plunkett the tract still owned by the Driesbachs. He it was who gave the seven acres to the church, which will ever keep his memory fragrant-known as " The Dries- bach Church." His wife, Eve, died March 10, 1789, at the age of sixty-seven. He died February 18, 1799. Martin Driesbach, Jr. (2d), lived and died at the place near the church. Martin Driesbach (34), the judge, was his son. lle was born in Buffalo town- ship December 8, 1800, and died March 15, 1880. He was married to Elizabeth Kleckner in 1882, and had children,-Solomon, Cyrus, and Charles, died ; Hiram, William, Martin and Miriam. His wife, Elizabeth, died Oc- tober 2, 1875. He was appointed associate judge by Governor Curtin on the 3d of Feb- ruary, 1865, and elected to the same office, and commissioned November 6, 1865 ; his term expired December, 1870.
JACOB HUMMEL was born in Berks County, Pa., the 22d of May, 1806. His grandfather, Jacob, Hummel, who was a fifer in the Revolu- tionary army when a boy of eighteen years of age, moved to the well-known " Rising Sun," in Monroe township, at an early date. The judge's father, John Hummel, had come up with his father to the " Rising Sun," but, after a few years, he returned to Berks County, married Catherine Weary, and two of his chil- dren, Sarah (afterwards married to David Stro- hecker) and the judge, were born. In 1808 he came, with his family, to the "Rising Sun," remaining there until 1813, when he moved to Kelly township, where he died HIth of July, 1853. The judge's mother lived until the 12th of July, 1883, dying at the age of ninety-eight
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
years and one day, in Lewisburgh. There were of the family, David, and Elizabeth, who was married to Abraham Shaffer, father of John Shaffer, merchant tailor. The judge was elected county commissioner in 1838 and again in 1855, and twice elected associate judge of the County Court, in 1870 and again in 1875, hold- ing the two terms in full. Hle removed to Lewisburgh, - - th, -, where he now resides. He is one of those men of strong common sense and sterling integrity, showing the best characteristics of his race, enjoying in the community such a reputation that it was felt that, whatever official or social act he did, it would be with prudence and a due regard to the rights of his fellow-men.
CYRUS HOFFA was born on Limestone Run, in Turbut township, Northumberland County, March 29, 1838, a son of Jacob and Rachel (Follmer) Hoffa, the latter being a daughter of John Folliner. Attendance on the common schools of the district was followed by a course at the academy at MeEwensville, under Low Rynerson, and at Gettysburg, where he gradu- ated. He was married, December 26, 1859, to Margaret A. Auten, daughter of Robert Auten, and the following spring, her father having pur- chased for him the farm and mill known as Chamberlin's, in Kelly township, Union County, where Jolm Bear, of Lancaster, erected the first mill in September, 1784, he removed there, where he still resides. During this time he farmed the land and ran the mill, and bought grain, and for eight years was largely engaged in the lumber business with his brother, Samuel F. Hoffa, in Clinton County. Since 1878, with Jolm Hunter, he has been engaged in the grain, flour and feed business at Ashland, Pa., under the firm name of Hunter & Hoffa, the most ex- tensive in Central Pennsylvania, their sales amounting to over three hundred thousand dol- lars annually.
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